We 1 (10-01) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 16, 2001, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin" call Mark E. Miller at (202)720-7621, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. National Weather Summary Volume 88, No. 42 October 7 - 13, 2001 For additional information, call (202) 720-7917. Highlights: Following season-ending freezes in the Corn Belt on October 6-7, two rounds of heavy rain disrupted Midwestern fieldwork, including harvest activities and winter wheat planting. Rain, which fell during the mid- to late-week period, totaled 2 to 6 inches across Illinois (except in northwestern areas), Indiana, and the western half of Lower Michigan. Meanwhile, heavy rain also halted summer crop harvesting across the South. Heavy showers arrived across areas west of the Delta on October 10, then spread across the lower Mississippi Valley a day later. A second round of showers and thunderstorms swept across the South from October 12-14. Weekly rainfall totaled at least 4 inches in most locations from the eastern portions of Oklahoma and Texas to northwestern Alabama and the western half of Tennessee. However, in the middle and southern Atlantic States, late-week showers aided recently planted winter wheat and eased the effects of a 2-month dry spell. According to preliminary information from the Storm Prediction Center, numerous severe thunderstorms struck areas from the central and southern Plains to the central Gulf Coast region between October 9-13, resulting in about five dozen tornadoes and more than 150 reports of hail at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Despite scattered thunderstorms on the Plains, summer crop harvesting and winter wheat planting progressed with only minor delays. Although conditions for wheat establishment remained favorable in many areas, soil moisture shortages persisted on both the northern and southern High Plains. Meanwhile in the drought-affected Northwest, much-needed precipitation aided newly planted winter wheat, but cool weather (3 to 5 degrees F below normal) slowed crop development. Cool, mostly dry weather prevailed elsewhere in the West, ending a 3-week warm spell but favoring autumn fieldwork. From October 7-10, cold weather produced about 50 daily-record lows across the eastern half of the country. On Sunday, record lows across the Midwest included 23 degrees F in Madison, WI, 25 degrees F in Dubuque, IA, and 26 degrees F in Rockford, IL. A day later in Michigan, lows dipped to 21 degrees F in Alpena and 25 degrees F in Flint. In Maryland, Salisbury posted three consecutive record lows (26, 24, and 32 degrees F) from October 8-10. Farther north, some light snow and sleet fell at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, MA, on October 8, matching the 1988 record for its earliest trace of frozen precipitation. Meanwhile, precipitation diminished early in the week across the Southwest, but not before Tucson, AZ, (0.65 inch on October 8) notched a daily-record rainfall total. By Tuesday, heavy rain, accompanied by scattered severe weather, shifted into the Nation's mid-section, producing daily-record totals in Joplin, MO (3.67 inches), Oklahoma City, OK (2.35 inches), and Aberdeen, SD (1.59 inches). Separate severe weather outbreaks in Nebraska and Oklahoma spawned nearly two dozen tornadoes on Tuesday, including at least four F3-strength (winds estimated from 158 to 206 mph) storms--one in Nebraska and three in Oklahoma. Showers and thunderstorms continued to spread eastward, resulting in impressive, daily-record totals on October 11 in locations such as Texarkana, AR (4.99 inches), Memphis, TN (3.15 inches), and Houston, TX (3.02 inches). By week's end, Houston's year-to-date precipitation reached 62.43 inches (171 percent of normal), representing their highest annual total since 70.16 inches fell in 1963. A second round of locally heavy showers and severe weather developed across the southern Plains on Friday and spread eastward. El Dorado, AR, posted daily-record totals on October 11 (3.08 inches) and 13 (2.51 inches). Farther north, heavy showers returned to the Midwest at week's end, producing daily-record totals on Saturday in Chicago, IL (3.79 inches), and Evansville, IN (1.74 inches). Chicago's year-to-date precipitation climbed to 40.83 inches (140 percent of normal), well above their annual normal of 35.82 inches. Farther west, cool weather returned to areas from the Rockies westward by midweek, reaching the Plains by week's end. On October 10, daily-record lows included 10 degrees F in Randolph, UT, and 13 degrees F in Wells, NV. Three days later, Liberal, KS (29 degrees F), notched a daily-record low, while Amarillo, TX (31 degrees F), recorded their first freeze of the autumn. Although beneficial showers overspread the Northwest, several locations from the Great Basin northward recently completed their driest water year (October 1 - September 30) on record. In Washington, water-year records for dryness were established in locations such as Concrete (44.57 inches, or 64 percent of normal), Stehekin (18.64 inches, or 52 percent), and at the Mount Adams Ranger Station (16.99 inches, or 39 percent). But on October 10, daily-record rainfall totals included 0.71 inch in LaGrande, OR, and 0.57 inch at Whitman Mission, WA, near Walla Walla. Late in the week, some of the Northwest's precipitation fell in the form of snow, resulting in daily-record totals on October 12 in Winchester, ID (1.0 inch), and Spokane, WA (0.7 inch). Beneficial showers continue to ease long-term moisture deficits in Hawaii. On the Big Island, weekly amounts in windward areas included 5.88 inches in Glenwood and 4.92 inches in Mountain View. Locally heavy rain also fell across western portions of the Big Island on October 11-12, when 24-hour totals reached 2.50 inches in Kealakekua and 1.55 inches in Waiaha. Meanwhile, cool weather (as much as 6 degrees F below normal) enveloped northern and western Alaska, but showery weather and near-normal temperatures prevailed elsewhere in the State. On October 13, snowfall totaled 3.0 inches in McGrath and 1.2 inches in Bethel, boosting month-to-date totals to 7.9 and 4.4 inches, respectively. Bethel's October 1-13 precipitation totaled 1.95 inches, nearly three times the normal. Unusually heavy precipitation was also noted on Kodiak Island, where October 1-13 rainfall reached 5.54 inches (178 percent of normal). National Agricultural Summary October 8 -14, 2001 Highlights: Widespread, heavy precipitation halted row crop harvest and seeding of winter grains in the lower Mississippi Valley and central Corn Belt after midweek. Adjacent areas of the southern Great Plains, western Corn Belt, and Southeast also experienced fieldwork delays. Meanwhile, mostly dry weather aided fieldwork in the Atlantic Coast States and in the Southwest. Light showers briefly delayed seeding of winter grains in parts of the Great Plains, but the precipitation was beneficial for germination and early growth. The Pacific Northwest received much-needed precipitation, but moisture shortages remained. Corn: Ninety-six percent of the acreage was mature, and 37 percent was harvested. By this date last year, 98 percent was mature and 64 percent was harvested. Normally, 96 percent would be mature and 44 percent would be harvested. Many late-developing fields in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin reached maturity during the week. However, progress remained well behind normal in Wisconsin, where sub-freezing temperatures hindered the crop-maturing process. Heavy precipitation halted harvest across most of Illinois and Indiana after midweek, while progress slowly gained momentum in the Great Lakes, upper Mississippi Valley, and Great Plains. Despite a slight acceleration, harvest remained far behind normal in Iowa and Minnesota and well behind average in Nebraska and Wisconsin. Progress far exceeded the average in Pennsylvania, where moisture shortages promoted rapid drying. Soybeans: Ninety-six percent of the acreage was dropping leaves, and 57 percent was harvested. At this time last year, 97 percent was shedding leaves and 72 percent was harvested. Acreage shedding leaves was slightly ahead of normal, but harvest lagged behind the 63-percent average for this date. Most late-maturing fields in the northern and western Corn Belt began dropping leaves during the week, but sub-freezing temperatures hampered normal ripening in the upper Mississippi Valley. Fields along the Atlantic Coastal Plains also rapidly approached maturity, especially in North Carolina, where more than one-fourth of the acreage started dropping leaves during the week. Harvest was very active in the eastern and western Corn Belt, while wet weather limited harvest activity in the central Corn Belt. More than one-fourth of the crop was harvested during the week in Nebraska, and just under one-fourth was reaped in Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and South Dakota. Cotton: Bolls were opening in 93 percent of the fields, compared with 96 percent last year and the average of 92 percent. Thirty-seven percent of the crop was picked, well behind last year's 50-percent pace and 4 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Fields continued to ripen along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, although below-normal temperatures limited progress. Virtually all fields in the lower Mississippi Valley had open bolls by the end of the week, despite cool, wet weather after midweek. Harvest was active along the Mississippi Delta before the wet weather arrived, especially in Louisiana. Harvest fell well behind the normal pace in Arkansas and Mississippi. Rain also limited harvest progress in adjacent parts of the southern Great Plains and Southeast, but mostly dry weather favored harvest on the southern High Plains and Atlantic Coastal Plain. In the Southwest, most of the crop had open bolls, and harvest continued with few delays. Winter wheat: Eighty percent of the winter wheat crop has been seeded, and 55 percent has emerged. Planting and emergence remained nearly 2 weeks ahead of last year's slow pace, but less than 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. Seeding remained active across most of the Great Plains, although heavy rain halted progress in parts of the southern Great Plains. Planting accelerated in the Corn Belt early in the week, especially in Illinois, where growers sowed almost one-third of their acreage during the week. After midweek, heavy precipitation halted seeding along the middle Mississippi and lower Ohio River Valleys, but rain delays were shorter and less widespread in Michigan and Ohio. Planting accelerated in the Pacific Northwest, after storms provided much-needed soil moisture. Growers in Idaho and Oregon seeded about one-fifth of their acreage during the week. Light showers aided emergence in the Great Plains, but cool weather and soil moisture shortages limited growth on the northern High Plains. Mostly adequate soil moisture and seasonal temperatures promoted germination and growth on the central Great Plains, while moisture shortages hindered emergence and growth in the southern High Plains. Emergence remained far ahead of normal in Kansas and Oklahoma. Rice: Harvest progressed to 93 percent, compared with 90 percent last year and the 5-year average of 91 percent. Storms halted harvest in the interior Mississippi Delta near the end of the week, while dry weather aided progress in California throughout the week. Sorghum: Ninety-three percent of the crop was mature, and 68 percent was harvested. Crop development and harvest lagged behind last year, when 97 percent was mature and 86 percent was harvested by this date. Progress exceeded the averages of 91 percent mature and 58 percent harvested. Fields ripened well ahead of normal in Colorado and New Mexico, despite cooler-than-normal temperatures. Harvest was active across most of the Great Plains, especially in South Dakota, where nearly one-fourth of the crop was harvested during the week. Uneven ripening limited harvest progress in Texas. Harvest progressed far ahead of normal in Illinois, even though widespread, heavy rain halted progress near the end of the week. Peanuts: Harvest advanced to 60 percent complete, compared with 57 percent last year and the average of 55 percent. Digging progressed with few rain delays along the Atlantic Coastal Plains. Rain delays were scattered along the eastern Gulf Coast. Late-week storms halted digging in the southern Great Plains. Other Crops: The sugarbeet harvest advanced to 64 percent complete, ahead of last year and the 5-year average of 62 and 57 percent, respectively. About 30 percent of the acreage was harvested in the Red River Valley during the week, despite temporary rain delays. The sunflower crop was 32 percent harvested, well behind last year's 43-percent pace. Mostly dry weather aided harvest on the central Great Plains. Harvest was active on the northern Great Plains most of the week, although rain temporarily halted progress in parts of North and South Dakota. Corn: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 96 90 97 96 IL : 100 98 100 97 IN : 99 94 100 96 IA : 98 94 100 99 KS : 99 97 100 100 KY : 100 100 98 99 MI : 85 69 87 85 MN : 96 89 99 98 MO : 100 98 100 100 NE : 96 90 100 98 NC : 100 100 100 100 ND : 100 97 100 99 OH : 91 75 90 83 PA : 87 68 74 73 SD : 97 92 100 97 TN : 100 100 100 100 TX : 100 100 100 99 WI : 70 50 95 89 : 18 Sts: 96 90 98 96 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 92% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Dropping Leaves, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 90 83 87 71 IL : 99 97 99 97 IN : 100 98 100 99 IA : 96 83 100 99 KS : 98 94 100 96 KY : 97 89 94 87 LA : 92 89 98 95 MI : 96 81 89 97 MN : 99 99 99 99 MS : 98 94 97 93 MO : 87 74 99 92 NE : 99 97 100 100 NC : 70 42 57 56 ND : 100 100 100 100 OH : 100 98 99 98 SD : 100 99 100 100 TN : 85 72 87 87 WI : 92 73 97 96 : 18 Sts: 96 90 97 95 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 95% of last year's soybean acreage. Corn: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 33 17 39 31 IL : 55 47 72 50 IN : 38 31 48 36 IA : 14 9 73 40 KS : 80 68 97 71 KY : 89 87 86 79 MI : 20 9 10 21 MN : 13 6 63 41 MO : 72 64 90 69 NE : 28 18 79 43 NC : 92 90 84 84 ND : 21 11 27 28 OH : 18 12 23 23 PA : 47 27 21 24 SD : 30 18 44 27 TN : 91 88 98 94 TX : 96 90 94 92 WI : 10 6 27 23 : 18 Sts: 37 29 64 44 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 94% of last year's corn acreage. Soybeans: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 47 37 42 34 IL : 65 52 72 63 IN : 55 44 62 62 IA : 56 34 89 79 KS : 57 39 87 53 KY : 37 25 39 35 LA : 71 66 87 77 MI : 26 15 27 38 MN : 78 54 98 88 MS : 73 64 79 69 MO : 29 20 65 46 NE : 64 37 81 71 NC : 10 5 7 9 ND : 86 72 88 80 OH : 67 43 55 59 SD : 65 43 82 64 TN : 22 17 37 28 WI : 30 13 66 56 : 18 Sts: 57 40 72 63 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States harvested 96% of last year's soybean acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Planted, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 15 6 19 17 CA : 10 7 19 6 CO : 98 91 95 96 ID : 76 55 81 79 IL : 55 24 40 45 IN : 44 26 43 49 KS : 93 81 66 78 MI : 60 35 65 65 MO : 35 23 46 39 MT : 96 84 66 84 NE : 98 93 97 97 NC : 25 13 19 18 OH : 67 44 58 61 OK : 88 82 43 67 OR : 58 38 66 58 SD : 92 88 79 92 TX : 77 71 53 67 WA : 92 82 96 93 : 18 Sts: 80 70 61 71 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Bolls Opening, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 94 90 98 93 AZ : 100 100 100 100 AR : 100 99 99 98 CA : 95 90 98 97 GA : 92 86 91 89 LA : 100 99 100 100 MS : 100 100 100 99 MO : 98 95 100 100 NC : 94 90 89 94 OK : 86 81 96 86 SC : 92 88 90 92 TN : 96 93 100 99 TX : 90 84 95 88 VA : 85 77 80 91 : 14 Sts: 93 89 96 92 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States planted 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Winter Wheat: Percent Emerged, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 3 2 3 5 CA : 1 0 9 2 CO : 81 57 72 78 ID : 33 21 38 38 IL : 20 4 5 12 IN : 14 4 9 17 KS : 71 44 23 45 MI : 21 11 22 34 MO : 19 7 13 14 MT : 52 35 29 51 NE : 83 68 80 83 NC : 10 5 8 4 OH : 13 2 15 22 OK : 63 51 8 31 OR : 34 25 33 29 SD : 68 53 45 73 TX : 48 40 12 42 WA : 76 66 78 77 : 18 Sts: 55 40 27 43 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 18 States planted 90% of last year's winter wheat acreage. Cotton: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 29 18 64 46 AZ : 29 24 32 27 AR : 52 41 69 55 CA : 15 8 19 17 GA : 27 19 31 29 LA : 78 59 95 80 MS : 50 43 85 71 MO : 55 45 76 59 NC : 20 9 16 19 OK : 24 11 50 30 SC : 27 23 29 32 TN : 59 47 77 60 TX : 34 30 45 35 VA : 30 12 13 20 : 14 Sts: 37 29 50 41 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 14 States harvested 98% of last year's cotton acreage. Sorghum: Percent Mature, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 100 100 CO : 85 63 82 69 IL : 95 87 98 89 KS : 94 86 100 93 LA : 100 100 100 100 MO : 93 90 100 94 NE : 95 91 100 94 NM : 65 45 60 54 OK : 84 69 95 79 SD : 96 86 99 95 TX : 93 91 97 93 : 11 Sts: 93 86 97 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States planted 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Peanuts: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AL : 71 53 62 63 FL : 80 65 75 76 GA : 71 55 58 64 NC : 50 24 42 37 OK : 45 21 63 38 TX : 27 20 40 32 VA : 74 63 85 74 : 7 Sts : 60 44 57 55 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 7 States harvested 97% of last year's peanut acreage. Sugarbeets: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : ID : 31 19 28 27 MI : 32 18 10 22 MN : 80 49 81 75 ND : 87 57 91 76 : 4 Sts : 64 40 62 57 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 74% of last year's sugarbeets acreage. Sorghum: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 100 100 97 96 CO : 37 27 33 17 IL : 74 53 59 38 KS : 63 50 92 50 LA : 100 99 100 100 MO : 65 59 83 61 NE : 35 18 84 40 NM : 16 5 19 9 OK : 61 45 66 34 SD : 66 42 64 39 TX : 82 81 88 76 : 11 Sts: 68 59 86 58 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 11 States harvested 97% of last year's sorghum acreage. Rice: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : AR : 97 94 94 93 CA : 75 60 69 72 LA : 99 98 100 100 MS : 94 88 90 95 TX : 100 100 100 99 : 5 Sts : 93 88 90 91 -------------------------------------- 1/ These 5 States harvested 94% of last year's rice acreage. Sunflowers: Percent Harvested, Selected States 1/ -------------------------------------- : Week Ending : :-----------------------: 1996- State:Oct 14,:Oct 7, :Oct 14,: 2000 : 2001 : 2001 : 2000 : Avg. -------------------------------------- : Percent : CO : 30 19 34 NA KS : 55 35 74 NA ND : 25 10 28 29 SD : 39 25 62 42 : 4 Sts : 32 17 43 NA -------------------------------------- 1/ These 4 States harvested 90% of last year's sunflowers acreage. Pasture and Range: Crop Condition by Percent, Selected States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : VP : P : F : G : EX :: State : VP : P : F : G : EX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent :: : Percent : :: : AL : 2 8 27 49 14 :: NJ : 0 0 56 44 0 AZ : 2 8 40 43 7 :: NM : 12 35 37 15 1 AR : 10 22 36 28 4 :: NY : 4 13 38 40 5 CA : 20 25 30 25 0 :: NC : 7 19 38 30 6 CO : 6 14 46 32 2 :: ND : 9 21 42 27 1 CT : 0 28 36 36 0 :: OH : 4 16 36 36 8 DE : 1 8 16 65 10 :: OK : 11 26 37 24 2 FL : 0 10 15 75 0 :: OR : 20 39 37 4 0 GA : 4 13 45 35 3 :: PA : 33 39 15 13 0 ID : 20 54 25 1 0 :: RI : 0 40 50 10 0 IL : 2 8 41 45 4 :: SC : 6 14 36 43 1 IN : 4 14 32 43 7 :: SD : 9 16 38 33 4 IA : 6 16 34 39 5 :: TN : 0 8 25 59 8 KS : 10 26 38 25 1 :: TX : 14 19 29 32 6 KY : 10 17 31 35 7 :: UT : 16 31 34 19 0 LA : 1 6 41 44 8 :: VT : 8 38 39 15 0 ME : 22 26 39 13 0 :: VA : 11 27 38 22 2 MD : 2 18 46 29 5 :: WA : 20 55 20 5 0 MA : 0 5 42 53 0 :: WV : 0 16 38 39 7 MI : 1 14 40 39 6 :: WI : 2 13 34 47 4 MN : 4 18 38 37 3 :: WY : 30 37 23 10 0 MS : 0 2 26 59 13 :: : MO : 2 12 36 43 7 :: 48 Sts : 11 21 32 32 4 MT : 36 36 23 4 1 :: : NE : 7 16 37 35 5 :: Prev Wk: 10 21 35 30 4 NV : 10 20 37 32 1 :: Prev Yr: 21 27 29 20 3 NH : 24 26 26 24 0 :: : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VP-Very Poor, P-Poor, F-Fair, G-Good, EX-Excellent. 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